Section II, Book 2, member 1, chapter 3: Mysticall irradiations

CHAP. III.

Here it is demonstrated, that the occult action as well of Sympathy as Antipathy in creatures, proceedeth from Angelicall irradi[…]tions or shinings forth; that is, by the emission or ejaculation of their secret beams, the one against the other, out of such creatures as are created or generated under their Dominions.

SUch as are well seen in the Mysticall Theology, affirm, that Angells are all of one kind, in respect of their own creation, though the one is more or less illuminated, according to the importance of the office, whereunto they are called, or the Creator's will and mind is to employ them. For we must consider, that the Angels are the immediate organs, by which and through which, the Eternity effecteth his will, and pronounceth his word Fiat, after that his will is decreed in himself. For that very reason David saith, Angeli Dei validissimi robore, efficientes verbum ejus, a scultantes voci ejus, ministri ejus facientes p[…]acitum ej[…]s. The angells of God are most strong in power, and do or effect his word, and l[…]s[…]en unto his voice; they are his min[…]sters, to perform his will a[…]d leasure. So that it is evident, that nothing is effected in the world, be it in heaven or in earth, but it is performed by one of these organicall spirits. And therefore Reuc[…]ne saith, That all bodies, as well celestiall as terrene, have by the ordinance of God allotted them certain spirituall directors, and rulers of their vertues, and presidents of their operations, namely, as well they which are reasonable, namely, Man; as unreasonable, to wit, the Stars of heaven, and earthly creatures, both animals, vegetables, and minerals. And therefore Archangelus the Cabalist, maketh many degrees in the offices of Angels; For some (saith he) do stand before the divine tribunall of God, still praising him; some administer unto him, and unto us also; some have the custody of the watches of the night, of which CHRIST maketh mention, If he came in the second or th[…]d watch of the n[…]ght, &c. Some have the government of the four quarters of the year, and these are Presidents over the four stations of the Sun; others are ordained rulers over the seven Planets; and some do dispose of the influences and vertues of the fixed Stars, and twelve Signes, of which St. Jo[…] doth seem to make mention, saying, That in the twelve gates, that is, the twelve Signes, which (as Plato saith) are the ports of heaven, are the twelve Angels: Some are tu[…]elar Angels, and are ordained for the creatures safeguard; some have the custody of beasts, others of plants, others of pretious stones and mineralls. All these, the secret Theologians and wisemen do affirm; averring withall, that God worketh all in this inferiou[…] world, by the administration of Angells. And therefore St. Paul saith, That all are administring spi[…]ts, sent to effect that office. Thus far Archangelus. And again, Reuclin argueth, That the influxion of angelicall beams from the stars, must be divers and of sundry natures, because that the Angells do not by their voluntary action, move the celestiall Orbe alwaies after one manner, though by reason of the violent motion, it doth move daily by a diurnall motion from East to West.

But what needs many words, when the progression of the foresaid Cabalisticall work, doth open and discover all the my[…]ticall operation, and variety of action, in the Angells. For if once the ten names of God, which produce ten divers emanations, of different conditions, which are sent by the ten foresaid numerations, or sephiroticall ports or channells, do breed contrary effects, both in heaven above, and in earth beneath, it followeth by the foresaid testimony of the Prophet David, that there must be so many angelicall vehicles, to conduct them into the lower world, as there are Cabalisticall ports and channells; and consequently as many diversities of the divine properties, proceeding from the variety of his will, as also varieties of vehicles to conduct them. For I would have each judicious Reader to conceive, that the Hebrew Doctors did judge of the nature and property of each Name or attribute ascribed unto God in holy Writ, by that self-same effect which it produced, after the uttering or expressing of it therein, no otherwise than the Philosopher useth to judge of the nature and property of the complexion by the aspect of the Physiognomy; or as by the signes whi[…]h he beholdeth in the heavens, he determineth of their effects, to wit, of rain, winds thunder, &c. namely, because such presages in the heavens, do use to bring forth such and such effects. Now (as I have proved before) if it be the divine influence of light, which animateth and informeth each angelicall spirit, it must needs follow, that every one of these angelicall conductions, or vehicles of these influences must have also a divers property; because the formall influences which do animate these intelligences which carry them, are different, and therefore they will be naturally prone and enclined to operate the will of the Creator, according unto the nature of emanation, or beams of that property, which it receiveth from his proper port.

As concerning therefore those angelicall receptacles, or organs, which are ordained to receive the divers kinds of divine influences, or irradiations, I purpose briefly to expresse them in the first place, for the better understanding of the Reader, with the channell they do belong unto; and then the order of Angels which doth first receive them. After this I will set down the celestiall Orbes or Stars, into the which, as unto their particular store-houses, they are conveyed. And lastly, I will speak somewhat of the effects that these influences, which are conveyed down from their starry treasury, into the elementary world, do effect, both in the aire, seas, or water and earth. Touching therefore the Names or attributes of God, as also their emanations, or streaming forth of beams, with their peculiar properties, I have in few words written them, in the precedent Chapter; as for the rest, I would have the Reader to know, that those ten severall divine emissions of ten severall lights, out of so many Sephiroticall or Cabalisticall spouts or channells, into the vast cavity of the world, to accomplish the will of the Creator, have their particular angelicall waggoners or conductors; for in this, the best Theosophers agree, that as the upper Order of the Angels, do receive their light and bright emanations immediately from God, so do they emit them and manifest them unto the inferiour Orders; and for this reason they are called Mirrours, because they receive their light from the face of God, or his eternall catholick emanation, which (as I have proved before) is the head and fountain of all these Angelicall lights. And again, as the secret Theologians have, by their serious observation of the holy Bible, espied ten distinct properties, as also ten divers cognominations, or Names of God, appropriated unto them; so they perceived, that there was a singular Angel appointed to receive each of these emissions of beams, endued with the selfsame property or condition, as the lights which they receive do possesse, forasmuch as these Spirits do live, and are animated by them, being that as the externall of the Angell is a spirituall aire, so the internall of it is the formall irradiation or emanation, which is according unto Gods will emitted into it. And this is a generall note amongst all the secret Theologians, unto whom Bartholomaeus and St. Dennis do adhere, touching this point, that no Angell can intermeddle with anothers businesse, or take upon him the work that belongeth unto another, except it be such inferiour Angels, as are destinated to serve under their Arch-angels in the same function or property, as shall be said more at large.

We must therefore understand, that the office of the great and catholick Angell Mitattron, was so universall, that it was employed first about the information of the whole world, and the division of light from darknesse, as also, for the vivifying of the watry spirit of the world, and the diurnall rouling about of the heavens: And therefore it is said, and not without a good cause, That it was the divine and generall Emanation, that is the eternall Sapience, which for this reason is said to be created before all things, by whom afterward all things were made or created. And for this reason it is said, That this Angel doth contain in it all the angelicall perfection, no otherwise than the universall beams of the Sun are comprehended in the body of the Sun. Wherefore we do with the Hebrew Rabbies justly apply the essence of the first emanation unto Mitattron, which emanation is said to enter by the royall port or gate Cheter or Corona. For know, that this catholick Angell is said to be the first creature, because it importeth the spirit of the world, which did first receive the first-born son, or the Emperiall emanation, from the Attribute of God called EHIAH, which is a name of eternity, for that it containeth and doth respect the time past, the time present, and the time to come. For this cause therefore doth this great Angel style it self, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. The first influence therefore which was of universall life and essence, is received by the Angel Mitattron, which is for this reason called Donum Dei, after it was shouted down from the port Cheter, into the highest order of the Angells, called Seraphin, which by reason of their propinquity unto the throne of God, are said to burn, or be set on fire with divine love. And hereupon these have their excellent beauty and clearnesse, by reason of this sacred influence, which is so full of the loving benignity of the Father of light. From thence this potent angelicall nature conducts the beams of this light into the convexity of the aetheriall heaven, and there bestowes it as in a generall magazin or store-house; which place it afterwards informs or vivifieth, insomuch that by the admirable action and motion thereof, it is called Primum mobile, or that sphear which moveth first in the heavens, and by his motion it turneth the naturall or temporall world round about, from the East unto the West, in twenty four houres. The mover is this catholick Angel of the world, full of this eternall emanation, by which it animates the world. Therefore also is Sapientia said to be omnium rerum priùs creata, the first of all creatures; and, Fluxus virtutis Dei, & emana[…]io claritatis ejus, omni re mobilior, penetrans ubique propter suam munditiam & permanens in se, omnia innovans. It is an influence of the vertue of God, and the shining forth of his brightnesse, which is the most movable of all things, penetrating all things by his purenesse, and being one in essence, reneweth all things, that is, it reviveth every thing. By which it is plain, that this catholick emanation is the soul of the world, having endued, or put on, the universall angelicall spirit, and therefore is called by the holy Text, a Creature; so that the catholick created spirit of the world is the Primum mobile, for by this first-born emanation from God, it is animated and moved, as by the swiftest mover in the world; and the mover is tearmed Primus motor, both together; or called Mundi anima, which therefore is defined to be, in respect of the created spirit thus animated, Primum mobile, spo[…] te, & per se mobile; The first thing moved, which is moved voluntarily and by it self. And for this reason also, the animal faculty in man, which is sedes animae intellectulis, is said to move voluntarily, when the action […]f the vitall and naturall faculty, compared unto the etheriall and elementary heaven, do move unvoluntarily, that is, at the will of the first mover. And this work is therefore assigned unto this sphear, with the legions of intelligences, that are derived from, and created there by their catholick head, which is the said grand Arch-angell, as beams from one Sun, partly to hinder the starry lights, which were after created, from burning the elementary world, or working by their long continued impression, too violent and unnaturall alterations; as also to make a proportionable day and night unto the earth. To conclude, by this angelicall act, the whole spirit of the world was generally inacted.

The divine emanation, which issued from the second Sephiret or port, called Hochma, which is sent out by the Attribute IAH, passeth into the order of the Cherubins, (which signifieth the plenitude of Science, and abundance of the gifts of Wisdom) and is received of the Arch-angel Zophiel, which, by the etymology of his name, argueth pulchritude, as being replenished with an infinity of particular beams of life: But another calleth this keeper, and conductor of these beams, Ruziel, who immediately doth direct them into the firmament or heaven of the fixt starrs, and principally into the broad girdle of the starry heaven, which is called the Zodiack, arguing by the etymology of his name, that the beams of this emanation do chiefly work, and fashion out ideally, the liniments of an infinity of particularities in the elementary world, as shall be demonstrated hereafter.

The third effluxion, which is made from the port Binah, under the protection of the name ELOHIM, descendeth immediately into the order of the Thrones, (arguing thereby Gods severe property, full of […]udgment) and is received by the Arch-angel Zabkiel, or, as others will have it, of Kaspiel, which is as much to say as Genius Cholerae magnae; and this effluxion is conducted down into the next sphear below the firmament, which it informeth, according unto the naturall property of the divine influx, and it procreateth the globe of Saturn, which it replenisheth with spirits, or inferiour intelligences, called by the name of Saturnine Intelligences, which send down these influences into the elementary world, to produce effects according unto their nature, as well in the aire and water, as in and upon the earth.

The fourth emanation, which is derived from the conduit-pipe of Chesed, over which the word EL hath dominion, is received of the angelicall order of Dominations, which import power against evill spirits, and the benefit of life and breath, and then is committed unto the Arch-angel Zadkiel, which is by interpretation Genius justitiae; and this Angel, according unto the nature of the influence which it carrieth, is a friend unto the true Justice, in the proportion of the elements, and a friend unto the creature's life; wherefore it conducteth the beams of this property into the next or be below, Saturn, which they make a dwelling place for an infinity of spirits, that are created out of the same informing influence, and therefore are of its property. This Terra Angelica Olympi, is tearmed the Star of Jupiter, and these kinds of Olympick spirits are tearmed Jovial Intelligences, which do poure forth the streams of their influence into the elementary regions, and animateth the spirits of its nature, which work effects appropriated unto the property of this influence.

The fifth eradiation, or emission of divine beams, is out of the Sephiroticall numeration or port, called Geburah, whose President is the divine Attribute ELOHIM GIBBOR; and these beams are said to passe directly into the order of Potestats: and the Arch-angell unto the which these beams are committed is called Sama[…]l, or, as others will, Hamael; and it is a Genius which importeth horrour: and this Intelligence doth conduct the beams of its Emanation into the Sphere, which is below that of Jupiter, and informeth the spirits thereof with the burning fire of this nature or property, making the starry Globe of Mars their residence, from whence they poure out their influences unto the Elementary spirits, which are of that nature.

The next emission of divine beams, is out of the gate or channell Tipherith, over which the Divine Attribute ELOAH hath dominion, and these are infused immediatly into the Angelicall order of the Virtues, so called, because the divine Virtue doth shine forth of it: For, as Isidorus saith, The Angells of this order, do receive illumination, purgation, and perfection from God. And this order doth send them down by the Archangell Michael: which signifieth Quis tanquam Deus, into the next region below the Sphere of Mars; and there these golden and vivifying beams do inform and animate such bright intelligences, with their like property, as do dwell-in and Illuminate the visible Sun in heaven, and therefore are termed Solar spirits, from whence this mighty Archangell, which is called C[…]stos animarum, the keeper or preserver of living souls, doth order that they be hourly poured out into the Elementary region, to vivify and refresh those spirits, which are formed out after their own image and nature.

The seventh effluxion or irradiation, is out of the Sephiroticall port of Netzeth, over which the Attribute of God JEHOVA ZEBAOTH is Lord, and they pass immediatly into the Angelicall order of Principalities. And this influence is committed to the Archangell Anaol's custody, who conducteth them down into the next Sphere below the Sun, where it animates, according unto his good property, all such Olympick spirits, which do inhabit the Globe and Sphere of Venus, which are therefore tearmed Venerian Spirits, from whence the like vigour and force is sent out unto the Creation of Elementary spirits, of the nature of these formal influences which are radically sent down from the divine influence.

The next flux of divine beams, issue from the spout or channell called HOD: over which the Attribute Elohim Zebaoth is Pre[…]ident, and descendeth immediatly down unto the order of Archangells, and from thence is conducted downward by the Archangell Raphael, into the next Sphere below Venus; and there it createth, and continually vivifieth those Olympick spirits, which possesse and adorn the Orbe or Globe of Mercury, and are therefore termed Mercuriall spirits, which send down such mutable and changeable influences, to animate those Elementary spirits, which were created first by this Attribute, and therefore do Sympathise with the nature of such beams, as are sent down from this Sephiroticall gate.

The ninth effluxion or irradiation, springeth out from the eternall fountain, by the bright port Jesod, whose Rector or President is the Attribute Sadai, and passeth down unto the order of Angels, and is committed unto the custody and conveyance of the Archangell Gabriel, who directeth it downward unto the lowest aethereal or starry Orbe, where it animateth those spirits, which inhabit the Globe of the Moon, and are thereupon styled Lunary spirits; from whence they rain down showers of these influences, upon such spirits or demons in the Elementary world, as have received their Creation from the influences of this Property in God.

The last effluxion or flowing and streaming forth of the Divine beams, is effected by the channell or gate Malchut, whose President is the divine Attribute Adonai, and this descendeth immediatly (according unto the Cabalists opinion, into the order of the blessed Souls, from whence they deem them to be conducted directly into the Elementary world.

By the continuity therefore of thse severall and opposite irradiations, or emanations of beams, from God unto the Imperiall Angells, and from them unto the Olympick spirits, and so continuated from these unto the Elementary spirituall shapes or demons, we may gather thus much, namely first, that God doth onely operate essentially all in all, in and over all: next, that according unto the variety of his Volunty, he worketh diversly in this world, and therefore we must know, that his Volunty is manifold in property, because that thinge are effected, as well in heaven as in earth, after a manifold operation; wherefore if God operateth all, and in all, the diversity of his work must proceed from the multiplicity of his Volunty. And for this reason Hermes saith, Voluntas Dei summa est rerum perfectio, quam necessitas sequitur; necessitatem verò concom: tatur effectus: The Volunty of God is the highest perfection of things, which necessity doth follow, and the effect doth accompany the necessity: So that what God doth will must be perfect, and consequently the effect must follow of ne[…]essity. And therefore he concludeth, that God accomplisheth at an instant of time, both his will and the effect thereof. But what he would not have that cannot be, and therefore what existeth in rerum natura, of what property soever it be, it is effected according unto the will or Volunty of one of these Divine Attributes. Neque (saith he) credib[…]le est, Deo displic […]urum esse quod placuit, cum & futurum id & plac[…]turum mulio ante sciverit: Neither is it credible, that that should displease God, which did please him, b[…]ing that he did know long before, both the thing that was to come, and what should be pleasant unto him. And therefore Solomon: Could any thing exist which thou would[…]st not have to be? Thirdly, That according unto the variety of his divine Volunty, things were created, the one either Sympathising spiritually in affection with another, or Antipathysing among themselves, by reason of beams of a contrary disposition, according unto the concordant or opposit nature of the Angelicall irradiation or shining out of the beams of one spirituall creature another: which contrariety of conditions, did proceed from the varieties of properties, which is in the Volunty or will of one and the same radicall and eternall Essence. Thus therefore were all creatures in the world, as well spirituall as corporall, composed; and thus were they vivified and animated by beams, the one either contrarie unto the other, or else by reason of their concordance, and likeness of nature, rejoycing greatly when they meet together, by irradiation of all one influence. And we must know and understand, that although each creature had his radicall information by these Emanations, yet in their generations and multiplications, they may vary from the condition of their created or generated Parents, by the uniting together of two different irradiations at the hour of their birth; So therefore cometh it to pass, that a man both in shape and condition, may be unlike unto his Parents; a horse more fierce or sluggish then his sire; a plant or fruit more lax, waterish, or unwholsome then the stock from whence the seed or sap came, and consequently by the application of Angelicall beams of an opposite nature, in the birth of a man, it may happen, that the radiation of a plant, or flower, or beast, or such like thing, may for ever Antipathise with this man, which did aptly agree and Sympathise with another. And whereas the opposition which is made between the contrary Elements, is apparent and manifest, namely in respect of the fight or discord, which is made betwixt dissonant qualities or natures, as are cold, and heat; moisture, and drouth; So that in this case the Sympathy and Antipathy of Elements are well known to every one, namely betwixt the water and fire; and betwixt the earth and the aire; We must know that there is yet a more latent, and internall cause of Sympathy, and Antipathy in things, which by some is ascribed unto the occult natures of the Starrs; but in verity it proceedeth from those Angelicall influences, which do invisibly and after a most occult manner, stream out of creatures that are born under a discordant Emanation, which Reuchlin doth passingly well describe in these words: Pholosophis Peripateticis id probatur, quod c[…]lum quod[…] bet Sphaericum praeter formam suam essent[…]alem, habet assisten[…]em inte ligentiam orbis sui m[…]ric[…]m, quae vocatur Angelus, eò q[…]od ad hoc officium missa, intelligens & volens comple[…] jussa Creatoris, tanquam inter Deum & Naturam, virtus media; à qua fiunt operationes in rebus, quas natura earum vel […]on faceret, vel non sic faceret, quas alii provenire dicunt a proprietate occulta, & ali[…] quia tale: It is approved of the Peripatetick Philosophers, that every Spherick heaven, hath besides his essentiall form, an assistent Intelligence, which is the mover of his O be; the which Intelligence, is called an Angell, b[…]cause i[…] being sent to pe[…]f[…]rm that Office, doth understandingly and willingly accomplish the Command of the Creator, as a middle Virtue between God and na[…]ure, by the which are effected operations in things, which their nature either would not effect or would not do […]t after that fa[…]hion; the which are said by others, to proceed from an occult property, and others because it is so. Whereby it appeareth, that the hidden Sympathy and Antipathy in things, as well celestiall as terrestiall, proceed from the mysticall and arcane actions of Angelicall spirits or Intelligences, who first receive that hidden property from a peculiar influence or irradiation, which descendeth from some of the Divine influences, which do inform and indue that Angelicall spirit with that Virtue. But because it is not the Office of an Astrologian, to penetrate thus p[…]ofoundly into these hidden Mysteries, which belong unto the aeviall world; forasmuch as his custom is, to make the visible Starres the fountains of all those effects, which by way of influence and irradiation, do descend to operate, as well by sympathy as antipathy, in things below. I will here, after the Astrologicians manner, make the well-spring of all sympathy and antipathy, to arise from the manifold influence of the stars, as shall more at large appear in the next Chapter.